Hey everyone, check out this latest on Blue Origin and New Glenn.<br>
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So, the big question is: when are we actually going to get that launchpad back up and running? The CEO, Dave Limp, is being super optimistic, claiming they'll fly New Glenn again before the end of this year. That sounds like a serious confidence boost, especially since the whole thing was a total disaster—the launchpad exploded back on May 28th during a hotfire test.<br>
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Now, the reality check comes from NASA's Jared Isaacman. He's pretty skeptical, saying it's going to take a *long* time to fix Launch Complex 36, putting a 2028 timeframe on the table. The difference between Limp and Isaacman is huge, and it highlights the classic tension between corporate optimism and bureaucratic reality.<br>
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The good news is that Blue Origin has access and they're already seeing some positive signs. They confirmed the fuel tanks and propellant farms are in good shape, which is huge because those are the long-lead items. They also said the support tower can be fixed on-site instead of needing a full replacement.<br>
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For the Artemis missions and Amazon's satellite launches, this is critical. If they can hit that "before year-end" target, it keeps the momentum going for both NASA and the commercial side.<br>
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Honestly, it’s great to see the CEO pushing hard, but the NASA timeline seems more grounded. It just proves that in rocketry, the CEO's word is gold, but the engineers' timelines are the actual roadmap.<br>
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Source: https://www.engadget.com/2185458/blue-origin-new-glenn-launchpad-explosion-repair-update/